Rheological behaviors and mechanical properties of graphite nanoplate/carbon nanotube-filled epoxy nanocomposites

In this work, the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) contents on the rheological behaviors and mechanical interfacial properties of graphite nanoplate (GP)/epoxy nanocomposites was investigated. The results showed that the co-carbon fillers were homogeneously dispersed in the epoxy resins and MWNTs were intercalated into the GP layers. The storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of the nanocomposites was increased with the addition of MWNTs. This result was accompanied by an increase in elastic properties of the nanocomposites, resulted from the higher aspect ratio of the MWNTs. And the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were increased, as the MWNT content increased. It was noted that well dispersed MWNTs were strongly interacted with epoxy resins and worked as an effective reinforcement for the nanocomposites due to the flexible MWNTs compared with rigid GPs.